The Mystic Masseur

The Mystic Masseur, V. S. Naipaul’s first published novel, chronicles the rise and rise of Ganesh, transitioning from a failed primary school teacher and struggling masseur to an author, revered mystic, and MBE. This journey is memorable for both its hilarity and bewildering success.

An unforgettable cast of characters witnesses this meteoric ascent: Ganesh’s father-in-law, Ramlogan, whose shop gave the impression that "every morning someone went over everything in it – scales, Ramlogan, and all – with a greased rag"; his aunt, the Great Belcher, with her troubling wind; his wife Leela, who has a fondness for putting a punctuation mark after every word. Soon, Ganesh’s small hut is filled with books (1,500, as his wife will attest), and his trousers and shirt disappear, replaced by more suitable attire for a proper mystic. As "The Woman Who Couldn’t Eat" and "Lover Boy", the man who fell in love with his bicycle, line up to be cured, it seems the mystic masseur is destined for greatness.

In one of the author’s finest comic creations, we see the immense sensitivity, humour, and endlessly inventive imagination that have become the hallmarks of V. S. Naipaul’s genius.

Now part of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the very best of modern literature.